Power plant



March 2, 1937. o. H. HIRSTIUS POWER PLANT Filed July 27, 1936 Patented Mar. 2, 1937 U NI TE D STATES PATENT ()FFICE POWER PLANT Otto Herbert Hirstius, New Orleans, La.

Application July 27, 1936, Serial No. 92,898

5 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in power plants and more particularly to that type embodying the well known principle of utilizing the air currents in stacks. Air naturally flows upwardly in a stack after passing through an opening in the bottom and, in the present case, this air cooperates with a turbine or the like to drive a generator, thus to produce suitable electric currents, for example.

While heretofore it may have been attempted to produce devices of the general character set forth, apparently no one has so far as known accurately controlled the volume and air pressures in accordance with variations in temperatures and Wind velocities by varying the height.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide an improved fluid motor power plant of the above general character, which will be highly eflicient in use and operation.

A further object is to provide an apparatus of the above character which may be conveniently and easily adjusted under varying circumstances and conditions of temperature and wind to produce a substantially uniform current output.

A further object is to provide an improved stack suitable for use in the above apparatus at any location and which may be easily and quickly adjusted in height as circumstances may require.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexed drawing and in part hereinafter indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relation of the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art to fully comprehend the underlying features of this invention, that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by the invention, a drawing depicting an embodiment of my invention has been annexed as part of this disclosure, and in such drawing like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all of the views, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partly insection, and semi-diagrammatic, illustrating one form of complete 7 power plant;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detailed plan view taken near the case;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view showing the telescopic arrangement of two of the various sections;

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view showing the turbine and generator in a semi-diagrammatic manner.

As is well known to those familiar with the particular subject, so far as actual power plants are concerned, adapted to produce electricity in large quantities, it is necessary to use a stack of relatively great height and large cross sectional area in order to produce the desired volume in an efficient manner. In order to drive the turbines in the present invention, advantage must be taken not only of the differences in temperature between the surface of the ground and a point relatively high with respect thereto, but also the barometric difference in pressure and wind velocities whereby a huge cyclonic air current is produced in the stack causing a partial vacuum at the base whereby the air rushes through properly proportioned openings at a high speed to drive the turbine which in turn drives the generators. From calculations carefully made, it has been determined that a main' tower, approximately 1200 ft. high and having a base of approximately one-fourth of the diameter, is preferable when taken with a plurality of telescoping sections which may be raised successfully and independently to produce a tower having a total height of approximately 2,000 ft.

Such a tower is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 1 and comprises an outer cylindrical shell l0 mounted upon a suitable base I I of concrete as may be necessary according to the land upon which the stack is built. This steel tower or cylinder is buttressed preferably by reinforced girders l 2, thereby to resist maximum wind pressure. The stack or tower is internally braced by a plurality of spiders l3 mounted with respect to a central column M which in the present instance spiders l8 mounted with respect to the piston 25 and whereby, when fluid is admitted to the bottom of the. cylinder Hi, all of the upper sections will be moved successively until the desired extended relation is obtained, depending upon temperature and wind velocities existing at the particular time. With high wind velocities it is of course desirable that the telescoping sections be lowered while on a still day the tower should be extended to the maximum.

5 For convenience a separate elevator 2| extending upwardly as far as might be necessary is provided thereby to permit access to the upper moving part.

The lower part of the stack preferably com prises a separate chamber having a ceiling 22 housing the individual turbines 23 and generators 24 (Fig. 4). In the present instance it is found that a stack of the above dimensions will properly take care of eight turbines preferably arranged equidistantly about the base. Openings 25 are provided in the stack at the base to permit air to rush through the turbine 23, thence through an outlet 28 through the ceiling 22 of the chamber. The turbines 23 may be directly connected with the generators 2G and the generators in turn connected in series in any desired manner. By providing a separate chamber for the turbines and generators at the base of the stack, access is permitted thereto without subjecting the personnel to the terrific air currents otherwise existing.

The control for the hydraulic elevating mechanism may be maintained inside of the stack, as indicated at 21, and this control is connected 30 thereto by suitable piping, pumps, etc. for supplying fluid to the elevator. If pumps are used, these may be driven by a portion of the output of the generators.

The operation of the present mechanism will probably be clear to those familiar with the subject. It is sufficient to state that the turbines 23 and generators 24 are of standard construction, assembly and hook-up, and are so arranged with respect to the stack that the air entering through the openings 25 in the base at high velocity will drive the turbines and the generators. If the normal wind velocity is relatively low, then fluid is admitted to the cylinder l4 centrally positioned with respect to the telescoping stack sections to raise telescoping sections to the highest point, thereby to provide the desired normal vacuum in the base. The wind velocity being low, the stack will not be subjected to a material lateral pres.- sure. If, however, the wind velocity increases, then the stacks should be lowered in proportion thereto, thus providing the normal or desired uniform intake at the base and at the same time relieving undue wind strains on the sides of the stack. It is of course to be understood that the openings at the base of the stack are provided with strong and substantial gates or other closure means 28 (Fig. 4) whereby any turbine'may be shut off as may be necessary in case repairs are required.

From the above it will be seen that the present invention is well adapted to accomplish, among others, all of. the objects and advantages herein set forth.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so 65 fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain ieatures that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a power plant of the character described, in combination, a main tower section provided with a base chamber having a plurality of circumferentially disposed openings, and air motors mounted in said openings having outlet ducts leading through the ceiling of the base chamber, said main tower having a plurality of telescoping sections, and means for raising or lowering one or more of said sections as desired.

2. In a power plant of the character described, in combination, a main tower section provided with a base chamber having a plurality of circumferentiallydisposed openings, and air motors mounted in said openings having outlet ducts leading through'the ceiling of the base chamber, said main tower having a plurality of interfitting telescoping sections, each provided with a substantial overlap with respect to the adjacent section, said main tower and sections each provided with one or more spiders, and a centrally disposed hydraulic elevator supported by said spiders and having a piston rod connected with the telescoping sections whereby one or all of said sections may be elevated or lowered as and when desired.

3. In a power plant of the character described, in combination, a main cylindrical stack section suitably buttressed and provided with a plurality of interior spiders, the lower part of said section constituting a separate chamber divided from the main portion of the stack, said stack having a plurality of base openings, air motors associatedwith said openings, the discharge for which is adapted to pass through openings in the ceiling of said chamber, a centrally disposed hydraulic elevator having a piston rod, a plurality of individual telescoping sections to said stack,

each of which is connected with said piston rod whereby said telescoping sections may be moved individually to extended or collapsed position as desired.

4. In a power plant of the character described, in combination, a main cylindrical stack section provided with a plurality of interior spiders, the lower part of said section constituting a separate chamber divided from the main portion of the stack, said chamber having a plurality of base openings, air motors associated with said openings, the discharge from which is adapted to pass through the ceiling of said chamber, a centrally disposed hydraulic elevator having a piston rod, a plurality of individual telescoping sections to said stack, each of which is connected with said piston rod whereby said telescoping sections may be moved individually to extended or collapsed position as desired, and a separate elevator parallel to said first elevator for the personnel.

5. In a power plant of the character described, in combination, a main tower section provided with a base chamber having an exterior opening, an air motor mounted within said chamber communicating with said opening and having an outlet leading through the ceiling of the base chamber, and a plurality of telescoping sections associated with the main tower section, and means for raising or lowering one or more of said sections, as desired.

OTTO HERBERT HIRS-TIUS. 

